29: Lead Well Live Well with Dee Blick and guest John Acton

29: Lead Well Live Well with Dee Blick and guest John Acton

What can we learn from those who have battled self‑doubt and still led huge success stories? This conversation between host Dee Blick and entrepreneur John Acton gives you a front‑row seat to that kind of journey. You’ll hear how John helped grow parcel giant DPD from £4 billion to £9 billion, not by hiring big‑name consultants, but by harnessing the brains already in the business.

His "silver bullet" was using facilitation and collective thinking so that, as he puts it, "the biggest issue with strategy is buy in" rather than clever theory. Dee teases out how his leadership style centres on simplicity and generosity: making complex things easy to grasp and giving people the space and support to reach their potential. John talks candidly about leaving school at 16, living with dyslexia and carrying a long‑standing fear of failure.

Instead of hiding it, he explains how he leant into creativity, frameworks and surrounding himself with "really good people" to build a career that later led him to London Business School and senior roles. The episode then shifts to his move from corporate life to founding his own business and the peer‑to‑peer franchise model.

You’ll get a clear picture of how his groups work: small, regular meetings of business owners, guided by a chair, where "borrowed brilliance" and kindness are the currency, not ego or profit. Dee and John also touch on franchising ethics, why it "can never be about the money", and his focus on ensuring franchisees never regret joining. If you’re curious about leadership that’s rooted in humility, shared wisdom and kindness, this chat offers plenty to think about and apply.

Who in your life could you share – or borrow – a bit more brilliance from?